Middle Africa · UN member
Sao Tome and Principe: Travel Guide & Requirements
Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe · República Democrática do São Tomé e Príncipe
Sao Tome and Principe is a country in Middle Africa with its capital in Sao Tome. It has a population of 240,254 (#181 in the world) and covers 964 km². The official language is Portuguese. The currency is the São Tomé and Príncipe dobra (STN, Db).
Where is Sao Tome and Principe? Map of Sao Tome and Principe
Central Africa, islands in the Gulf of Guinea, just north of the Equator, west of Gabon.
- Region
- Middle Africa
- Coordinates
- 1° N, 7° E
- Neighbours
- none (no land borders)
- Coastline
- 209 km
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Capital
Travel requirements
What you need to travel to Sao Tome and Principe
- Passport
eVisa applicants upload a scanned passport valid for three months beyond the last day of stay shown on the visa.
- Visa or eTA
Depends on your passport: of 198 passports, 56 need no visa, 142 need an eVisa. Check yours or see Sao Tome and Principe entry requirements for every passport.
- Return or onward ticket
eVisa applicants must attach a return ticket to the application.
- Proof of funds
The eVisa page lists, as additional information at the border, proof of means of subsistence of €100 per day.
- Travel insurance
No official requirement.
- Vaccinations
The UK government says a yellow fever certificate is required if you are coming from a country listed as a transmission risk.
- Travel advice
Some caution needed — US and UK advice.
Entry rules: TravelRequirements.info — Entry Requirements Dataset (CC BY 4.0), each rule cited to an official government source. Always confirm with the airline and the official source before you travel.
Before you go
9 things to know before you travel to Sao Tome and Principe
- Safety: Sao Tome and Principe is generally safe for travellers, but some caution is needed: the US State Department rates Sao Tome and Principe Level 2 (“Exercise Increased Caution”), and the UK Foreign Office has no warnings against travel there.
- Best time to go: June to September — when daytime highs in Sao Tome are around 25–26°C.
- Money: the São Tomé and Príncipe dobra (STN) — 1 US dollar is about 21.9681 STN.
- Plugs: type C and F, 220 V, 50 Hz — standard 220–240 V: devices from the US or Japan (110–120 V) need a converter unless they are dual voltage (100–240 V).
- Emergency numbers: Police 112, Ambulance 112, Fire 112.
- Language: Portuguese is official; English is also spoken.
- Driving: on the right — speed limits are 50 km/h in built-up areas and 90 km/h outside built-up areas.
- Time zone: UTC0 in Sao Tome.
- Capital: Sao Tome. About 240,254 people live in Sao Tome and Principe.
Key facts
Sao Tome and Principe at a glance
Languages spoken: Portuguese 98.4% (official), Forro 36.2%, Cabo Verdian 8.5%, French 6.8%, Angolar 6.6%, English 4.9%, Lunguie 1%, other (including sign language) 2.4%; other Portuguese-based Creoles are also spoken (2012 est.)
Geography & history
About Sao Tome and Principe
Portugal discovered and colonized the uninhabited Sao Tome and Principe islands in the late 15th century, setting up a sugar-based economy that gave way to coffee and cocoa in the 19th century -- all grown with African slave labor, a form of which lingered into the 20th century. While independence was achieved in 1975, democratic reforms were not instituted until the late 1980s. The country held its first free elections in 1991, but frequent internal wrangling among the various political parties precipitated repeated changes in leadership and failed, non-violent coup attempts in 1995, 1998, 2003, and 2009. In 2012, three opposition parties combined in a no-confidence vote to bring down the …
Read the full history
Portugal discovered and colonized the uninhabited Sao Tome and Principe islands in the late 15th century, setting up a sugar-based economy that gave way to coffee and cocoa in the 19th century -- all grown with African slave labor, a form of which lingered into the 20th century. While independence was achieved in 1975, democratic reforms were not instituted until the late 1980s. The country held its first free elections in 1991, but frequent internal wrangling among the various political parties precipitated repeated changes in leadership and failed, non-violent coup attempts in 1995, 1998, 2003, and 2009. In 2012, three opposition parties combined in a no-confidence vote to bring down the majority government of former Prime Minister Patrice TROVOADA, but legislative elections returned him to the office two years later. President Evaristo CARVALHO, of the same political party as TROVOADA, was elected in 2016, marking a rare instance in which the same party held the positions of president and prime minister. TROVOADA resigned in 2018 and was replaced by Jorge BOM JESUS. Carlos Vila NOVA was elected president in 2021. TROVOADA began his fourth stint as prime minister in 2022, after his party's victory in legislative elections.
Location
Central Africa, islands in the Gulf of Guinea, just north of the Equator, west of Gabon
Climate
tropical; hot, humid; one rainy season (October to May)
Terrain
volcanic, mountainous
Highest point
Pico de Sao Tome 2,024 m
Natural resources
fish, hydropower
Natural hazards
flooding
National symbols
palm tree
Driving
Speed limits & road rules in Sao Tome and Principe
The default speed limits in Sao Tome and Principe are 50 km/h in built-up areas and 90 km/h outside built-up areas. The legal alcohol limit for drivers is 1.2‰. Posted signs always take priority over these defaults.
- 5050 km/hBuilt-up areasTowns and citiesWHO data (2017)
- 9090 km/hOutside built-up areasCountry roadsWHO data (2017)
- International Driving PermitNot a party to the IDP conventionsCheck with the embassy whether your licence is accepted
- Driving sideDrive on the rightOvertake on the left
- Alcohol limit1.2‰ blood alcohol (0.12% BAC)
- Seat beltsRequired by law
- Child seatsNo national child-restraint law
- Motorcycle helmetsRequired for riders
- Road deaths (2021)11.7 per 100,000 peopleClose to the world median (12.4)
Speed limits: OpenStreetMap wiki — Default speed limits (CC BY-SA 2.0) and WHO. Road-safety laws: WHO Global Health Observatory. Compare speed limits and alcohol limits by country. Defaults for cars; local signs, weather and vehicle type can lower them.
Safety
Is Sao Tome and Principe safe to visit?
Sao Tome and Principe is generally safe for travellers, but some caution is needed: the US State Department rates Sao Tome and Principe Level 2 (“Exercise Increased Caution”), and the UK Foreign Office has no warnings against travel there.
US State Department
UK Foreign Office (FCDO)Latest update: New information about dual nationals returning to the UK (‘Entry requirements’ page).
Updated 10 Dec 2025 · Full travel advice
Sources: US Department of State travel advisories (public domain) and UK FCDO foreign travel advice (contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0). Checked daily. Advice can change quickly — always read the official page before you travel.
Weather
Best time to visit Sao Tome and Principe
The best time to visit Sao Tome and Principe is June to September, when daytime highs in Sao Tome are around 25–26°C. October is also a good time to go. March is the warmest month (28°C by day), July the coldest (24°C at night), and April the wettest with about 176 mm of rain.
- Jan28°C27°C
- Feb28°C27°C
- Mar28°C27°C
- Apr28°C27°C
- May27°C27°C
- Jun26°C25°C
- Jul25°C24°C
- Aug25°C24°C
- Sep26°C25°C
- Oct27°C26°C
- Nov27°C26°C
- Dec27°C26°C
Best time Good Less ideal
Before you go
Plugs, voltage & emergency numbers in Sao Tome and Principe
Plugs & sockets
220 V, 50 Hz · Standard 220–240 V: devices from the US or Japan (110–120 V) need a converter unless they are dual voltage (100–240 V).
Emergency numbers
112 works from any mobile phone, even without a SIM card in most networks. All countries →
Sources: Wikipedia — Mains electricity by country and List of emergency telephone numbers (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Currency · 26 October 2026
São Tomé and Príncipe dobra exchange rates today
Sao Tome and Principe uses the São Tomé and Príncipe dobra (STN, Db). One US dollar buys 21.9681 STN; over the last 30 days the STN has lost 2.2% against the dollar.
What other currencies cost in STN
Currency converter
Daily reference rates from the open-source currency-api (CC0), 26 Oct 2026. Banks and exchange offices add a margin.
World rankings
Where Sao Tome and Principe ranks
How Sao Tome and Principe compares with the rest of the world — open any card for the full ranking.
Airports
Airports in Sao Tome and Principe
3 airports and airfields — 1 large, 1 medium and 0 small, plus 0 heliports. 2 have scheduled passenger flights.
Borders
No land borders
Sao Tome and Principe has no land borders with other countries. Coastline: 209 km.
People
Population & society
Religion
Largest cities: Sao Tome (80,000)
Economy
Economy
Main industries
light construction, textiles, soap, beer, fish processing, timber
Export partners
Pakistan 54%, Germany 11%, Netherlands 7%, France 5%, UAE 3% (2023)
Top exports
crude petroleum, cocoa beans, vehicle parts/accessories, palm oil, aircraft parts (2023)
Travel tools
Handy before every trip to Sao Tome and Principe
Next public holiday
São Tomé Day — Monday, 21 December 2026. Then Christmas Day (25 Dec).
Sao Tomean passport
Ranked #155: 26 countries visa-free, 33 with visa on arrival, 3 with an eTA and 37 with an eVisa.
Sao Tomean passport photo
Exact size, head position and background for Sao Tome and Principe's passport and visa photos — make one free with AI checks.
Calling Sao Tome and Principe
Dial +239 before the local number. Internet domain .st.
Climate footprint
0.1 million tonnes of CO₂ in 2024 — 0.60 t per person.
Entry requirements
Visa rules for every passport visiting Sao Tome and Principe: visa-free stays, eVisas, visas on arrival and documents to bring.
News
Latest travel news about Sao Tome and Principe
Sao Tome and Principe travellers: 59 countries visa-free, joint 81st in index
Kyrgyzstan has fallen six places since the start of 2026 to 81st in the Henley Passport Index, sharing the position with Sao Tome and Principe. Kyrgy…
New Visa Bond Requirement for Citizens of West African Countries
The US has introduced a visa bond requirement for citizens of several West African nations, including Sao Tome and Principe, who apply for B1/B2 visa…
São Tomé and Príncipe Implements New Conservation Model
São Tomé and Príncipe has adopted a new conservation model integrating sustainable development with community involvement, aiming to protect its uniq…
Frequently asked questions about Sao Tome and Principe
What do I need to travel to Sao Tome and Principe?
How long must my passport be valid for Sao Tome and Principe?
Where is Sao Tome and Principe?
What is the capital of Sao Tome and Principe?
What language is spoken in Sao Tome and Principe?
What currency does Sao Tome and Principe use?
What is the calling code of Sao Tome and Principe?
Does Sao Tome and Principe have land borders?
How strong is the Sao Tomean passport?
What is the speed limit in Sao Tome and Principe?
Is Sao Tome and Principe safe to visit?
When is the best time to visit Sao Tome and Principe?
What plug type does Sao Tome and Principe use?
How many airports does Sao Tome and Principe have?
Sources: CIA World Factbook (public domain); World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0); names, languages and currencies: mledoze/countries (ODbL); flag: flag-icons (MIT); coat of arms: Wikimedia Commons (file page); exchange rates: Daily reference rates from the open-source currency-api (CC0); airports: OurAirports.